Loading ...Since people are embracing local more and more, the search engines are also increasing their efforts to make the experience relevant and useful. But according to Mikko Ollila of Bing Local, local search is difficult and challenging.
As he tells WebProNews, one challenge is the fact that there are multiple ways for users to determine what businesses are available. To make matters worse, many times those ways conflict with each other. To help overcome this challenge, Ollila advises businesses to take ownership of their local business listing in Bing Local. By doing this, businesses can make sure all their information is correct.
In addition, Bing is trying to create a “natural” local experience that builds upon what other local search engines have already done. Ollila says that Bing wants to help users make fast decisions.
The search engines also face the challenge of finding the right balance. If the engines allow local search to be open, there are some businesses that could do a lot of harm to their rivals.
As Ollila points out, Bing is aware of all these challenges and is doing everything it can to make its local search as relevant as possible.
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This would all be great if it was true!
For everyone living outside the USA Bing’s Local Listing Center is broken. For some reason, they are happy to post wrong information for places and then not allow you to correct it if you live outside the US. Perhaps should take down the service if they can’t support it properly.
Bing Local Search here is Australia needs work.
I just updated my company Bing listing. Thanks for the heads up!
As Ollila points out, Bing is aware of all these challenges and is doing everything it can to make its local search as relevant as possible.